Dealing with judgmental heart

In today’s passage, Jesus speaks about the qualities of a spiritual leader. What is essential for a leader is love. That love must be expressed in concrete form. Jesus said, “Do not judge,” but He was not forbidding the system of judicial judgment. Rather, He was addressing the condition of our hearts. A leader should refrain from making hasty judgments. This is because the person being criticized may become angry and retaliate. Proverbs says, “One who is slow to anger has great understanding; But one who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness” (Prov. 14:29). We will be measured by the same standard we use to measure others. If we forgive others, we too will be forgiven. That said, Jesus was by no means teaching salvation by works (good deeds). Jesus is teaching that only those who truly understand the depth of God’s forgiveness can become people of genuine love. Do you have a tendency to view others with a critical eye? If so, take a moment to remember just how much forgiveness you have received from God.

Dealing with hypocrisy

Jesus said, “A student is not above the teacher.” At that time, there were no libraries, and mass media was undeveloped. For a disciple learning under a teacher, the teacher’s knowledge was everything and reaching the same level as the teacher was the ultimate goal. Therefore, for a disciple, choosing whom to follow as their teacher was a matter of great importance. Under what kind of leader, we live out our faith is a matter of great importance for us also. At the same time, we must also recognize that great responsibility comes with leadership. In today’s devotional, I was shown that the spirituality of a church will not rise above the spirituality of its leaders, and I stood in fear and trembling before God. Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” There is a touch of Jesus’ unique humor in that statement. However, the message is serious. If someone pretends not to notice the log in their own eye (a flaw obvious to everyone) while making an issue of the speck in another’s eye (a minor flaw) that person is called a hypocrite. Are you now in a position to lead other brothers and sisters? Then let us together lean on the mercy of the Lord and become believers who carry a heart willing to learn from others.